The Maple Leafs felt like throwing a hockey stick through the television following last night's 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, preferably at the big HD screen at National Hockey League headquarters in Toronto.

But angry Nik Antropov took the team's anger at a costly overtime penalty and three video replay reversals the hardest, hurling his stick towards referees Mike Leggo and Don Koharski after Rod Brind'Amour netted the game-winner.

Forget about throwing hockey sticks. What about throwing in the towel on the season? What should the Leafs do before the trade deadline? Have your say in our forum.

Bring on Doug Gilmour to save the day! You need someone at the top the bleed's BLUE ... Dougy is the perfect man for the job.
Jay, 2007-11-26 15:09:32

A very simple solution: move the Marlies up to the NHL and demote the Leafs.

Fire JFJ.

There should be a media campaign to embarass the Leaf Players, except Sundin, to donate 25%of their salaries to charity for their "simply wonderful" performances.

I watched the Leafs last win the Stanley Cup. Never have I been so embarassed to be a Leaf fan as I am right now. If I have to watch McCabe send another stupid pass up the centre to an opposing player I'll put my foot through the TV. Doesn't he understand that the fans are on him not only because of his salary, but because he is a player who consistantly makes stupid mistakes and does not learn.

Maybe it is time for the NHL to have performance based contracts. You perform and you get highly paid.If you don't perform, you get a base salary and a one way ticket elsewhere.I remember when the Leaf coaches had the power to make their under-performing stars ride the buses in the minors for a few weeks. It's time to send half the Leas to the minors to re-install what the hell they are supposed to be doing in the NHL.

David McBrien, 2007-11-26 15:01:26

I do not know what the ownership thinks of JFJ but they are not very focused on the leafs because JFJ is still there,the leafs need ofence and if JFJ didn't trade that 1st round draft pick they could have got Espisito, there's offence. He should also fix the goaltending because Pogge will be ready soon and they will wreck him if they through him into this mess. I am a hab fan and im glad that they have a good farm team and good YOUNG goalies. As for Paul Murice he needs to show more repect for his few young players by swithing the lines, like puting Tulusty on the second line with Blake, and Wellwood while Poni, Sundin and Anterpov, on the checking line they need Tucker, Bell and Steen and on the fourth line they should have Stajan and if he plays good enough to play on a better line move him up, same for Deveaux, playing with them should be Kilger. On defence they should play Kaberle and White, MaCabe and Kubina(so MaCabe does not put a bad influence on the young d-men) and Gill and Gamash(Colavacio when hes back).
RY-MAN, 2007-11-26 14:43:08

I only pray that if JFJ is in fact fired they go with Glenn Healy. Wow, would that ever be funny.
Ben, 2007-11-26 13:40:15

"It's that fine a line between getting things done and not," Ferguson said, a copy of the NHL standings at his side. "Teams that were down are now up, teams that started 7-1 (Minnesota Wild) are now (even). But we're three games under (.500) and we know we have to get better."

This guy could put a spin on a dump truck with no engine! The Wild may be even, but so is their goal differential, and with an average of 2.7 GA over their first 23 games the fact is they are in most games they play while sacrificing some offence for a much sounder D. The same can be said for the other teams at or near .500 with a minus goal differential: Nashville -1; Colorado, Islanders and Devils all -3; Anaheim -5; and Phoenix -6.

A win here and there over a top team (that 3-0 win over Ottawa is now put into perspective in light of the current Senators' slump) means absolutely nothing over an 82-game schedule if they can't put together significant winning streaks - with emphasis on the plural. The good teams do - the mediocre teams do not. It's that simple, and all the "spin" that would fit in that same dump truck won't change things one iota.

I understand the need for guys like Sundin to remain eternally positive, and for local writers to grasp at any promising straw that floats by in order to try and "inspire" the team to greater, more consistent efforts. But as Sir Max Beerbohm said "Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best."

The rumour running rampant is that JFJ's days (hours?) are numbered. Perhaps those for Paul Maurice as well. And if the new GM is from among the "name" individuals currently being bandied about, the media will blare the news as if it was the Second Coming, and that, in turn, will instill the so-called Leaf Nation with renewed hope (much as a one-game winning streak does).

But the fact is, not even Scotty Bowman (who at least is experienced at the job, never mind Mark Messier - they HAVE to be kidding) can convince other GM's to take the likes of a Kubina, McCabe, Tucker, Gill, or Raycroft off their hands. And when the dust settles, the new man and his new coach will have to send those same people over the boards until their contracts expire. Somehow, I doubt the Teacher's Union will want to throw good money after bad (i.e., the buy-outs of stiffs like Belford and Domi, and now JFJ and Maurice?) by cashing them in or sending them to the minors.

George O'Leary, 2007-11-26 12:56:54

My thery is,and I truely beleive that the leafs are trying to get 1st pick in June 08 . So I beleive Fergy is doing a perfect job.May not win many games,but will get lots of 1st draft pics..BOW leafs BOW<>
George Yarkie, 2007-11-26 11:59:40

Glenn Healy to manage Leafs,that has to be the joke of the year, has anyone listened to his high speed drivel. He tries to hide his lack of knowledge with his rants.His knowledge (lack of)is very very evident

I cant believe the Leafs would even consider hiring him as manager.For one thing he has no class, no knowledge, & worst of all a arrogance that borders on & shows his complete stupidity.
Gary Graham, 2007-11-26 11:42:28

this is the time to keep on losing so we can get some first round picks in 2008!

yes ferguson should be replaced by mark messier, let mark hire his own coach.

remember the owners need to be replaced or fired as well as they have created this mess.

trade the under acheiving players , and old high paid prima donnas as well!
nels skaalid, 2007-11-26 11:40:03

It is my humble opinion that the only head(s) who should roll in leafland is JFJ. He dealt the team, including Maurice a bad hand. McCabe isn't a top 4 defenseman on any of the Top 10-18 teams in the league. To pay him like one was brutal. Any chance he is on a two way?
Bartholomew, 2007-11-26 11:17:07

I'm a Leaf fan living in Ottawa, and get down to a number of Ottawa games.

Needless to say I am embarrassed every time our team enters town.

What really ticks me off is the comentators that do the leaf games. They must all be on the Leaf payroll! There's no other reason for their blatant one sided view of the games.
Garreth, 2007-11-24 14:37:51